Seton HIll traveled to California, PA for a PSAC West doubleheader with the Vulcans on Saturday afternoon with a chance to clinch their first ever PSAC Western Division title with one win.
The Griffins did not waste any time getting that win as they scored in four different innings in game one as they defeated the Vulcans 10-1 to clinch the division title. California (PA) took game two by a 12-4 score. SHU is now 26-10 overall and 23-7 in the west while the Vulcans drop to 19-8 overall and in the west.
SHU got on the board first in game one in the top of the second inning.
Morgan Toal doubled down the left field line to start the inning. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by
Alexis Vargas. Toal scored on a
Christiana Skrabak single which put the Griffins in front 1-0.
The Griffins struck for three more runs in the fourth inning. Toal again doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a Vargas bunt. Skrabak was hit by a pitch and stole second before both runners scored on a
Samantha Estupinian single. Estupinian scored on a
Shayleigh Gulvas pinch hit single as SHU took a 4-0 lead.
Allison Kapoll singled in
Jenna Osikowicz in the sixth inning to push the SHU advantage to 5-0. The Griffins put the game away in the top of the seventh. Vargas tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a Skrabak hit. Estupinian reached on a bunt base hit and Grandey reached on a fielders choice to load the bases.
Mackenzie Zang then hammered a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for her first collegiate homer, a grand slam.
Logan Hartman improved to 10-0 on the season with the win. She worked six innings, giving up one run on four hits and striking out seven. Skrabak finished the game going 3-3. Toal, Vargas and Estupinian each added two hits.
Seton Hill again struck first in game two, this time scoring twice in their first at bat. Osikowicz singled with one out. She moved to third on a Toal single. Jenna then scored on a wild pitch and Toal crossed the plate when Vargas singled as SHU took an early 2-0 lead.
The Vulcans scored twice in their first two at bats to take a 4-2 lead over the Griffins. They added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Back to back triples from
Natalia Greco and Osikowicz to start the fifth inning trimmed the Vulcans lead to 5-3. Oaikowicz later scored on a wild pitch and SHU trailed by just one at 5-4 but the Vulcans scored seven times in the sixth inning to invoke the eight run rule.
Osikowicz had two hits to lead the Griffins.
SHU will close out their regular season on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Edinboro.
The Griffins will then host the first round of the PSAC Tournament on Wednesday and Thursday in Greensburg. SHU will take on the #4 seed in the west in a best of three series. Their opponent will be determined on Sunday.
